HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.10.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - July 10, 2026.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
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From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod;
Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.;
Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Cannon, Jamie
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - July 10, 2026
Date:Friday, July 10, 2026 4:57:48 PM
Attachments:image001.png
Please see Board Correspondence -
Lewis LeeAdministrative Technician - ConfidentialButte County Administration25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965T: 530.552.3326www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov
From: Department of Water Resources <DWRMedia@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2026 2:27 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - July 10, 2026
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Lake Oroville Community Update
July 10, 2026
Explore the Lime Saddle Recreation Area
Just a short drive from the town of Paradise, the Lime Saddle Recreation Area
is located along the western shoreline of the North Fork of Lake Oroville and accessible
from Pentz Road. The boat ramp and day use area features picnic tables, sun shelters,
ADA accessible flush toilets, and trash receptacles. A five-lane boat ramp provides access
to Lake Oroville with two lanes extending down to 702 feet for lower water access. At the
top of the boat ramp, a parking lot provides ample vehicle and trailer parking with ADA
designated spots. In addition, the Lime Saddle Marina offers supplies, gas for boats, and
boat rentals so you can enjoy a day on the lake.
The Lime Saddle Campground Area features 50 total campsites with 44 individual
campsites (28 car/tent sites and 16 RV sites with full hookups). Each campsite features a
picnic table and fire ring with grill. Bathroom facilities offer flush toilets and showers for
visitors. The Lime Saddle Group Campground features two group campsites (six individual
sites) with shade structures, multiple picnic tables, trash receptacles, a large barbecue,
and a water fountain with spigot. Three of the sites at this facility are ADA accessible with
the central restroom/shower building also offering ADA accommodations.
Summer is a good time for a hiking or biking trip along the Lime Saddle Trail featuring
scenic views of the reservoir. The 1.73-mile trail is accessible from Lime Saddle
Recreation Road (marina access road) and routes visitors north before ending at the Lime
Saddle Group Campground.
Wildlife Safety at State Recreation Areas
The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) and Department of
Water Resources (DWR) are reminding visitors to be aware while enjoying the beautiful
resources the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) has to offer. While LOSRA
offers overnight camping opportunities and miles of recreation trails, it is also an area
where wildlife, including bears, live.
Resident wildlife species around Lake Oroville include mountain lions, raccoons, turkeys,
opossums, coyotes, tree and ground squirrels, rabbits, deer, skunks, ringtails, bears, and
many kinds of native birds. Remember to admire from afar when viewing wildlife. Wildlife
can be viewed from a distance using binoculars, spotting scopes, or the zoom function on
a camera. Keep hands and snacks to yourself as eating human foods can make animals
sick or malnourished. In addition, animals who are continually fed can lose their fear of
humans and become aggressive.
Visitors should remain vigilant and know how to respond if they encounter a bear. Stay
calm, pick up small children, never approach bear cubs, make yourself appear as large as
possible, and slowly back away while giving the bear plenty of space. Never run, as
running may trigger a bear's natural chase instinct. Store all food and scented items in
locked vehicles or bear-resistant containers to help keep both people and wildlife safe. For
more bear safety tips, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW)
website.
State Parks also reminds visitors that dogs are not allowed on most trails and day-use
areas within LOSRA. When in an area that does permit dogs, they must be kept on a
leash no longer than six feet and always remain under the immediate control of a person.
Feather River Fish Monitoring Station
DWR resumed operations of the Feather River fish monitoring station on March 4,
2026, to capture the return of spring-run Chinook salmon. Monitoring was temporarily
suspended at the end of December 2025 due to anticipated high flows in the Feather
River. Upstream migrating fish totals between March 4 and July 6, 2026, are:
Spring-run Chinook salmon (March 4 through June 30): 8,475
Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 239
Steelhead: -18 (most likely kelts moving downstream)
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 865 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.91 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 85 percent of its total capacity and 112 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 850 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville
with releases from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet at 7,150 cfs for a total Feather
River release of 8,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases
daily.
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data
Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.”
All data as of 11:59 p.m. on 7/9/2026.
California Department of Water Resources
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Call our general information line at 916-820-8142
or email us at oroville@water.ca.gov
Contact Us
Stay Connected with the California Department of Water Resources
This email was sent to clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net from the California Natural Resources Agency
utilizing govDelivery. California Natural Resources Agency, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
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